After a diagnosis of prostate cancer

How is prostate cancer treated?

The best treatment for your prostate cancer depends on your age, general health and the grade and stage of your cancer. Although nearly all treatments have side-effects, most can be effectively managed. Ask your doctor what side-effects to expect and how best to manage these.

Active surveillance is sometimes a valid option and your doctor will ‘watch and wait’. Some prostate cancers are slow growing and occur in older men, so they are not always a threat to life. The possible side-effects of treatment such as surgery may have more impact on your life than the cancer. You will still need regular prostate tests, which may include repeated biopsies, to make sure things haven’t changed.

Surgery involves the removal of the prostate (prostatectomy), and sometimes the surrounding tissue. Surgery requires on average three to six days in hospital, followed by a six week recovery period.

Surgery is an option if you have localised prostate cancer (the cancer has not spread outside the prostate gland) and you are fit for surgery. Once the cancer has spread outside the prostate gland, surgery is not normally an option, however other treatments are available.

Radiation therapy uses X-rays to destroy cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be recommended to treat localised prostate cancer. It may be used instead of surgery or in combination with surgery. It can also be used to reduce the size of the cancer and relieve pain, discomfort or other symptoms.

Hormone treatment involves reducing the male hormone, testosterone, to help slow the growth of the cancer. This is done by using drugs that stop the release of hormones that cause the testicles to produce testosterone. This is an option where the cancer has spread, or if you are unsuitable for other surgery or radiation therapy. Hormone manipulation is not a cure for localised prostate cancer, however it will usually stop the prostate cancer from growing. This remission can last several years.

Chemotherapy may not be routinely used when prostate cancer is first diagnosed, however may be offered if the cancer spreads and other treatments have not been effective.

What about my physical and emotional wellness?

Eating a healthy diet including a variety of foods, will ensure you have what your body needs to cope with treatment and recovery. Regular physical activity can improve your cancer recovery and reduce side-effects such as fatigue.

Don’t be afraid to ask for professional and emotional support.

Consider joining a cancer support group.

Learn to ignore unwanted advice and ‘horror stories’.

Live day-to-day and remember that every day is likely to be different.

Complementary therapies can work alongside medical treatments and some have been shown to improve quality of life or reduce pain. There is no evidence that these therapies can cure or prevent cancer. Some have not been tested for side-effects, may work against other medical treatments and may be expensive. Talk to your doctor about using complementary therapies.